21 « January « 2009 « Film News Briefs

Archive for January 21st, 2009

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21, 2009

PROJECTS ANNOUNCED

The Film Department has acquired screen rights to Marcus Sakey crime novel “Good People,” with Tobey Maguire’s Maguire Entertainment and Film 360, the production division of Management 360, to produce the feature adaptation. As with all his producing projects, Maguire has first crack at the male lead role. Script will be penned by Kelly Masterson, who most recently wrote “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.” “Good People” concerns a couple in debt from several rounds of futile fertility treatments who think their problems are solved when they stumble upon money found in their deceased tenant’s apartment.

PROJECT UPDATES

Sony is pushing back the release of Roland Emmerich’s actioner “2012″ from July 10 to Nov. 13, the same date the studio used to launch the previous two James Bond pics. Sony prexy of worldwide distribution Rory Bruer said the studio has a very strong summer slate — including tentpole “Angels and Demons” (May 15) and Denzel Washington-John Travolta actioner “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” (June 12) — and it made sense to move “2012″ to November. Sony said “2012″ would have been ready in time for July 10. In its new date, the Emmerich pic goes up against Warner Bros.’ Robert Downey Jr. topliner “Sherlock Holmes,” which likewise opens Nov. 13, along with 20th Century Fox family film “Tooth Fairy.”

Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford are moving to “The Cabin in the Woods.” Jenkins is on board and Whitford is in final negotiations to star in the mystery-shrouded MGM/UA horror project written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, who also is directing. Whedon is producing. Much like “Cloverfield,” which Goddard scripted, the “Cabin” story line provides a new twist on a classic scenario — in this case the young-people-stranded-in-the-woods horror trope.

ACQUISITIONS/FESTIVAL NEWS

The specialty divisions of the Hollywood studios have begun rattling their pocket change at the Sundance Film Festival. Sort of. Fox Searchlight, one of the heavyweights at recent fests, made its first buy late Monday night. But instead of picking up a high-profile movie that everyone was tracking, it settled on a small movie few had been focusing on — Max Mayer’s “Adam.” The crowd-pleaser, which stars Rose Byrne and Hugh Dancy in a New York romance, played well in its Monday afternoon premiere, and Searchlight, which bought worldwide rights, hopes to turn it into the next “Once,” which it acquired here in 2007.

Lionsgate has picked up North American and U.K. rights to James Strouse’s comedy “The Winning Season.” Strouse is a Sundance vet. His pic “Grace is Gone” sold to the Weinstein Co. “Season” was a late addition, joining the Premieres section in December. Plum Pictures and Gigi Films produced the pic, which stars Sam Rockwell as an alcoholic who becomes a high school basketball coach as part of his recovery.

Arts Alliance Media will distribute feature doc “Iron Maiden: Flight 666″ worldwide on April 21 in association with the legendary British heavy-metal band, EMI music and Universal in the U.S. The doc focuses on Iron Maiden’s Somewhere Back in Time world tour last year, which saw the band fly to perform in 13 countries in a customized Boeing 757 airliner piloted by lead singer Bruce Dickinson.

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North American and Latin American rights for under $3 million to Lone Scherfig’s “An Education” after a heated bidding war. The deal closed Monday night. After the first screening Sunday, Fox Searchlight tried to grab the film with an early preemptive bid, but the offer in the $1-2 million range was deemed too low by sellers CAA and Endgame Entertainment, which financed with BBC Films the $12-million 60s romance.

BUSINESS NEWS

The parent of Clear Channel Communications told workers on Tuesday it is cutting 1,850 jobs, as the largest owner of U.S. radio stations grapples with the economic meltdown. The cuts represent about 9% of the company’s total workforce and affect staff throughout the company, in radio, outdoor advertising and corporate offices.

STRIKE NEWS/LABOR ISSUES

The SAG standoff over national exec director Doug Allen remains inflamed, with president Alan Rosenberg still defiant in the face of efforts by the board’s majority to topple Allen. The moderates have pledged they will fire Allen on grounds that he’s bungled SAG’s negotiations, defied the will of the board and left members without a new feature-primetime contract for nearly eight months. Despite having the votes to toss Allen out, the moderate wing was blocked by Rosenberg and his allies at the Jan. 12-13 board meeting via a 30-hour filibuster.

TECHNOLOGY/MULTI-PLATFORM CONTENT

“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” lead Kevin James has created a Web series with Rock Reuben. Gary Valentine is set to star. “Dusty Peacock” will star Valentine as an illusionist whose stunts always fail. Sony Pictures TV is expected to produce the Web series for Crackle.com. James also is in talks to direct the shorts. Valentine is also pitching half-hour project “The Bachelor Chronicles,” based on a Men’s Health magazine column. That project would star Valentine as a dating columnist who must date at least three people per week.

NEW GRAPHIC NOVELS

JOHNNY, THE HOMICIDAL MANIAC #1 (Amaze Ink/Slave Labor): Those dangerous voices that can invade your mind and make you bonkers are back! Enter the dark corners of the human psyche in these hilarious and thought-provoking episodes in the life of one spindly, black-clad young homicidal maniac. Experience the horror of his terrified boy neighbor Squee, the unfortunately superior Wobble Headed Bob, a blood-drinking wall, cavernous basement torture rooms, and Johnny’s own comic, Happy Noodle Boy.

THE LONE RANGER AND TONTO #2 (Dynamite): We’re just highlighting this fantastic book here because this particular issue is destined to be a classic. The Lone Ranger and his trusty sidekick, Tonto, uncover a horrifying secret in this thrilling story, called “Reston.” It’s well worth your time. Trust us.

WEBSITE TO WATCH

http://www.myspace.com/presidentialpledge

Katalyst Media founder Ashton Kutcher and his wife Demi Moore have turned to MySpace to encourage their celebrity friends, and the community at large, to pledge plans of action to honor the Inauguration of Barack Obama. This site asks users to upload their own personal pledges, along with comments and links to sites that may help to affect change. Demi Moore has directed a moving video to get the ball started featuring pledges from quite a cast of folks. MySpace has ridden on the backs of celebrities to reach the heights it has achieved as the most trafficked website in the U.S., with some 76 million users. Yet the site has found itself in the shadow of Facebook for some time – particularly among the tech illuminati. Instead of imitating its rival, efforts like this seem to embrace its pop culture roots rather than apologize for them. Makes sense to us. Adhere to your core competency and do some good when you can.